New Headquarters of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Geneva (CH)

It is the firm intention of the authors to use the earth from the site as a building material, and also as a symbol of a new habitat. The cascading terraces help to favour exchanges and dialogue, while integrating greenery like an extension of the surrounding landscape.

INSERTION INTO THE SITE

The project offers coordinated spaces with different combinations of recesses and projections, making it possible to create very varied and flexible layouts for different types of uses and future types of work organization. Besides, thanks to this coordination, the terraces provide a number of outside spaces that are a considerably enrichment for those working in their offices. This spatial arrangement fits into the context, evoking the gentle undulations of the surrounding mass of greenery, while retaining a height that is contained and adapted to the town planning regulations governing the area. With this versatility, the building seems to interpret the character of the new IOM headquarters as a place accessible to all, a place of multiple encounters, rather than a lifeless monument. It is a kind of flexible and changing organism that symbolically welcomes and inspires migration flows as rich and coordinated occurrences, rather than a rigid and imposing image.

ORGANIZATION OF THE PROGRAMME

The building has numerous access point but none is identifiable as the main entrance for delegations or even staff. The tiered levels proposed for landscaping purposes also make it difficult to move around the site and restrict access for all (universal access to outside social spaces). Moreover, while rendering floor plans more adaptable, the numerous and complex routes across the floors of the building make it confusing and difficult for people with disabilities to find their bearings in the workspace. For temperature regulation, the office space depends on the natural capacity of the construction materials used. There are shaded outside extensions on all levels, with potted plants that could prove difficult to maintain. Some of the proposed spaces seem deeply recessed and could suffer from a lack of light, while others — on the upper levels — seem too narrow to be used efficiently.

STRUCTURAL CONCEPT

The project envisages a building (R+7+attic) with two or three basement levels. The bottom of the excavation (-3) is roughly 3.5 metres below the existing basement level. The project envisages the building of a basement using recycled reinforced concrete, on which would rest the core and columns made of recycled reinforced concrete. The beams and slabs are made of solid wood. The compression slabs are made of clay concrete and the walls of raw earth. The project does not impinge much on the existing garage. Only the creation of an access point is envisaged.

OUTDOOR FACILITIES

The project uses a lot of space at the ground and basement levels; its floor management is complex, extremely mineral, and its landscaping is not really convincing. The three ancient oak trees are envisaged as individuals, cut off from the characteristic bocage that framed the old estates and the Jardin des Nations. This abrupt interpretation of the landscape seems at odds with the values being embraced by the architectural project.

CONCLUSION

The architects’ decision to place the proposed project at a distance from the neighbouring buildings of the Morillons Administrative Centre, in strict adherence to the prescribed distances from the boundaries the property, does impact the conservation of the existing trees and disrupts the green corridor at the northern corner of the building. Their preservation was expressly called for in the terms of the competition and is difficult to diverge from. The adaptability and ingenuity of the proposal also impressed the jury, but raised questions as to the match between the concept and the representation of a headquarters building or even an administrative building. The conference centre is located below ground, but with a huge patio that admits light and allows for easy access to an outside space. The other critical aspect of this proposal is the complexity of the building’s vertical connections, which are too labyrinthine. The jury therefore regrets that access is possible only via the elevators from the main entrance and a relatively small staircase, and an elevator from the VIP entrance. It is also regrettable that the VIP access is not very visible and is located next to the delivery entrance. Lastly, the modular aspect of the project gives an ambiguous reading of the main facade and thus creates a confusion about the position of the building’s entrances. The proposed outside facilities are too impermeable and are not in line with the site’s natural vocation; they endanger the survival of the trees that must be conserved and do not envisage adequate access for people with reduced mobility. The materials used, combining raw earth and wood, are in line with the expectations of sustainability and respect for the environment, and at the same time convey a very clear message, akin to a manifesto.